Ben heads to districts next week!

Prep boys tennis: Wesco 4A South Division Tournament
(Copyright 2012, The Daily Herald Co.)

MILL CREEK -- Patrick Chung of Cascade remains undefeated on the season, winning the Wesco South 4A singles championship by dispatching Ben Mietzner of Jackson 6-1, 6-4 in the final match of the South Division Wesco 4A boys tennis tournament at Jackson H.S. on Wednesday.

The two have faced each other before, and Mietzner has yet to come away with a win, but the sophomore still has time to catch up to junior Chung. All of Mietzner's losses this season come from Chung according to Jackson head coach David Hutt, who said the difference is Chung's development as a player and his opportunities to play high-level players regularly.

"They are the top two players in the league. It is hard to describe. Both those guys beat up on everybody, it just comes down to experience," said Hutt.

Wednesday's match came after both players had already secured a spot in the district tournament, but it still had meaning. "I don't think the thought that they were already through to the district tournament next week lessened the pressure that these two athletes felt. They both have a great competitive spirit and they both wanted that title," said Cascade head coach Ashley Layton.

The upcoming district tournament will be a chance for Mietzner and others to get some more experience with high-level opponents, and for Chung to try to continue his streak.

The top four finishers in singles and doubles make the district tournament. Joseph Lee of Kamiak got the third place slot beating another Jackson player, Luke George, who got in at fourth place.

The doubles championship match was made up of more Timberwolves, with Peter Cung and Grant Follis beating teammates Everet Wang and James Okubo. The match was a 21/2-hour marathon that finished 6-3, 3-6, 7-5. Hutt said that, though the path to the final was not easy, both teams seemed in control of their matches.

At Jackson H.S.

Top four singles and doubles finishers advance to district tournament. Singles--Finals: Patrick Chung (C) def. Ben Mietzner (J) 6-1, 6-4. Third-place match: Joseph Lee (K) def. Luke George (J) 6-2, 6-3. Doubles--Finals: Peter Cung-Grant Follis (J) def. Everet Wang-James Okubo (J) 6-3, 3-6, 7-5. Third-place match: Colin Kim-Sung Yu (K) def. Dylan Merrill-Jason Smarr (EW) 6-4, 3-6, 6-1.